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Raids shut down alleged illegal gambling establishments in Appalachia
Kingsport Times-News ^ | 05/09/2006 | CARMEN MUSICK

Posted on 05/08/2006 9:59:21 PM PDT by girl_talk1999

Raids shut down alleged illegal gambling establishments in Appalachia Published 05/09/2006 By CARMEN MUSICK -Kingsport Times-News

APPALACHIA - Virginia State Police converged on Main Street in Appalachia Saturday, shutting down four alleged illegal gambling establishments and seizing nearly $20,000 in cash and an untold amount of gambling supplies and paraphernalia.

Wise County Special Prosecutor Tim McAfee said close to 40 law enforcement officers were involved in the search and seizure effort, "searching illegal gambling houses and associated residences, persons and vehicles."

No arrests were made Saturday. The investigation is ongoing.

"Our job today is primarily to close the gambling down, to seize property and continue the investigation," McAfee explained.

"We hope to have the investigative phase completed in the next 30 to 60 days and then we would begin the prosecution phase," he said.

In all, Virginia State Police and assisting agencies executed 38 search warrants and eight seizure warrants - three for commercial buildings located within a block of each other on Main Street in Appalachia and five for motor vehicles. A fourth building, also on Main Street, was searched but not seized.

"The commercial businesses are being seized because of the connection to racketeering activity including illegal gambling. The vehicles are being seized because of their association with the gambling and money laundering," McAfee said.

"The primary gambling establishments, based on the search warrants, are operated by Jim Taylor and Andy Taylor. Andy Taylor is a former deputy sheriff. He and his brother, based on the search warrant, operate the one up there," he explained, as he pointed up Main Street.

"This one is operated by Freddy Ford and the other one (just right there) is the Hubert Summers gambling establishment," McAfee said.

Troopers from the Virginia State Police were stationed at each entrance as the searches, which started mid-morning continued into the evening hours.

McAfee provided an extensive list of 24 categories of items police were searching for, including various documents and communications, U.S. currency, gambling devices, financial documents, credit or debit cards, gambling supplies, records or tangible objects that relate to the purchase of gambling supplies and telephone and address records.

"Obviously, things related to gambling, public corruption, any connection with past or present town officials is part of this investigation," McAfee said.

McAfee said the investigation started about nine months ago, and that his office had been involved since September 2005.

Speaking of the law enforcement entity, McAfee said, "this is our second foray into the town of Appalachia this year, and hopefully it'll be our last, but there are no guarantees."

"We've been aware of this for a long time. We still look at this as a social cancer. The town needs it to be gone for it to move forward," McAfee said.

To drive home the significance of the day's events, McAfee explained that, based on information they had, there was $190,000 in gambling supplies purchased.

"I'm not talking about payouts. That's the supplies that were purchased," McAfee said. "So there is a lot of illegal transactions going down. This isn't somebody making 10 cents on some poker game. It's much bigger than that.''

The commercial buildings seized had no other business purpose, McAfee said, other than the illegal gambling activities.

From across the street at Appalachia Towers, residents looked on as the operation continued throughout the day.

"They were lined up from one end of the street, all the way down here, up that way and up the back alley," said lifelong Appalachia resident Emma James, referring to the police vehicles.

As McAfee entered his vehicle nearby, James paused to offer her thanks - something she had done to state police troopers throughout the day.

"We appreciate you guys cleaning this town up for us," James told McAfee.

"This has been going on for years in this town. They should have done this years ago," she explained. "Of course, they've tried before. But somehow they'd always get tipped off."

"It's been going on for as long as I can remember," 83-year-old Evelyn Moore agreed.

"I just hope it sends a message to the rest of them," James said.

Other agencies involved in Saturday's search and seizures included the Wise County Sheriff's Office, the Department of Charitable Gaming and the Southwest Virginia Drug Task Force.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: breaking; crime; dadburnrevnooers; elections; government; illegalgambling; kitties; newb; news; noob; ozone; raids; seeyah; va; zot

1 posted on 05/08/2006 9:59:23 PM PDT by girl_talk1999
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To: girl_talk1999
shutting down four alleged illegal gambling establishments and seizing nearly $20,000 in cash

Gosh! That sort of sting here in Nevada would net about five minutes of proceeds!

2 posted on 05/08/2006 10:08:25 PM PDT by JennysCool ("I simply do not remember getting out of bed.")
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To: girl_talk1999
"The primary gambling establishments, based on the search warrants, are operated by Jim Taylor and Andy Taylor. Andy Taylor is a former deputy sheriff."

Noooo! What'll we tell Opie?!?

3 posted on 05/08/2006 10:13:54 PM PDT by DemforBush
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To: JennysCool

Buford Pusser on line 2.


4 posted on 05/08/2006 10:18:13 PM PDT by tang-soo (Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks - Read Daniel Chapter 9)
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To: DemforBush

Authorities say nearly $500,000 seized in Appalachia probe
http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2006-05-08-0059.html

Nearly $500,000 was seized Monday as an investigation into reports of gambling and corruption continued in this Wise County town, authorities said.
“Right now, $500,000 in liquid and cash assets have been seized,” Special Prosecutor Tim McAfee said. “This isn’t chump change.”
Eleven seizure warrants were issued for a handful of bank and investment accounts. Some of the warrants also covered cash in safe deposit boxes, he said.
McAfee said the seizure warrants resulted in $220,000 in cash and other assets and $225,000 in investment accounts.
The raid, which began Saturday, stems from an investigation late last year into allegations of irregularities in the 2004 town election. Prosecutors claim 14 town officials and residents conspired to rig the race so they could benefit from illegal activities.
In late January, a 300-page indictment was returned by a grand jury. The town’s mayor and a councilman were among those indicted on election fraud charges.
On Saturday, Virginia State Police joined McAfee in a raid of three buildings along Main Street that authorities said have been used for gambling. No arrests were made.
Police said they discovered tip boards, cash and gambling tables during the raid. The buildings were seized.
McAfee said Monday that some “public persons” in town received money to keep police away from the gambling operations. Some current and past town officials were frequent visitors, he said.
Also on Monday, McAfee filed a motion in Wise County Circuit Court asking a judge to revoke the bond of Mayor Ben Cooper. Cooper was indicted earlier on voter fraud and conspiracy charges.
A search of Cooper’s home on Saturday revealed a gun and ammunition, which violates Cooper’s bond, according to McAfee. A bond revocation hearing has been set for Friday.
Prosecutors discovered after a background check that Cooper was convicted of domestic assault in Florida, McAfee said. Under the bond, that conviction would prohibit the mayor from having a firearm, he said.
The investigation could conclude by the end of June and may then go to a grand jury, McAfee said.


5 posted on 05/08/2006 10:20:03 PM PDT by girl_talk1999
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To: girl_talk1999

Poker machines are numerous in the Johnson City area. It used to be pinball machines. Now it's poker machines, and the devastation to families is noticeable.


6 posted on 05/08/2006 10:26:00 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: MHGinTN

The message should be loud and clear. Gambling and its profits belong to the government. How dare these thugs try to usurp the lottery???


8 posted on 05/08/2006 10:55:53 PM PDT by chadwimc
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To: chadwimc

BS....gambling profits belong to the Maifia, er...Indians........


9 posted on 05/08/2006 10:59:10 PM PDT by cherry (.)
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To: chadwimc

Our 'independent' Hill folk have been round the block over 'shine' gambling, and weed. Sadly, Oxy caught them.


10 posted on 05/08/2006 11:02:53 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: tang-soo
Buford Pusser on line 2.

Amazingly, I worked on the set of the original "Walking Tall" movie. One summer myself and several of my school mates worked for a few weeks to clear out around a bridge in preparation for a truck crash scene that lated all of 5 seconds in the movie. :) Good memories!

Yep, that makes me OLD! :(

11 posted on 05/09/2006 1:04:22 AM PDT by The Duke
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To: girl_talk1999

Some folks sure hate seein' good tax money- outside of their control.


12 posted on 05/09/2006 1:46:00 AM PDT by Treader (Human convenience is always on the edge of a breakthrough, or a sellout)
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